Despite a bad weather forecast, which does not rule out snow, organisers are optimistic that the event will attract a record number of runners yet again.

The Ljubljana Marathon, the biggest event of its kind in Slovenia, will culminate Sunday morning with a total of 17,000 runners embarking on 10K, half-marathon and marathon runs.

Just over 1,800 runners have signed up to brave the marathon course. This year, paraplegic athletes will be able to compete in a separate category.

Moreover, Slovenia's star athletes, including kayaker Peter Kauzer, cyclist Andrej Hauptman and judoka Lucija Polavder, will run the 10K with patients of the Ljubljana rehabilitation centre Soča to show that anybody can run.

On Saturday, small children will run in a 200m course, while primary school children and secondary school students will compete in several races.

The official opening of the weekend events will take place Saturday afternoon with a traditional carb-loading pasta dinner. As many as 25,680 runners have signed up for the events.

As running is becoming increasingly popular in Slovenia, the Ljubljana Marathon has attracted more and more competitors through the years. Last year, 18,516 people took part in the races, the year before it was 18,000 and in 2009 16,400 people ran at the event.

As for the cold spell that is expected to take over the country on Saturday and even bring snow by Sunday, Ljubljana Marathon director Gojko Zalokar has told RTV Slovenija web portal that they will make sure the runners will get hot soup and tea after the race.

The race director moreover said that they will also try to organise warm water at water stations along the race courses.